Southern Fillies Set for Showdown
23 April 2010
The last race in New Zealand Bloodstock's Southern Filly of the Year Series, the Listed NZB Warstep Stakes is scheduled to jump at 3.12pm from the 2000 metre marker at Riccarton tomorrow.
Just one of the three fillies tied for the lead in the Series is set to line up in tomorrow's race. The Lance Noble-trained Mercury Mistress (No Excuse Needed x Flytaine�by Centaine) produced a game finish to win the last battle between the fillies, the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes. Her only start over 2000m resulted in a fifth to Adaline and Katie Lee in the Group 2 NZB Royal Stakes at Ellerslie.
With a good chance of adding to her four Series points is the Richard Collett- trained The Beekeeper (Keeper x Minder�by Personal Escort). She finished third to Mercury Mistress in the NZB Airfreight Stakes and is becoming more dour with every start and being by Keeper looks well suited to the 2000m.
With just one point on the board, Howbaddoyouneedit (Howbaddoyouwantit x Vaguely Jet by Jetball) will be looking to step up for Tarsha & Michael Stokes from the inside barrier.
Grandissima (Savabeel x Maybe Yes�by Last Tycoon) has made the trek down South for Graeme & Debbie Rogerson on a black type mission. The smart filly has won two out of her last three starts and is proven over the distance.
Cat Woman (Scardee Cat x Kara Kum by Desert Sun) ran home well in the NZB Airfreight Stakes, finishing fourth to Mercury Mistress. The step up to 2000m looks like it should be no problem for the John Sargent-trained runner.
Another who may be looking for the 2000m now is Lesley Brook (No Excuse Needed x Polka by Groom Dancer) for Terry Kennedy. She was unlucky in the NZB Airfreight Stakes when ninth equal, trapped behind wall of horses until too late.
Roger James & Paul Mirabelli will be represented by the beautifully bred filly Exquisite Choice (Redoute's Choice x Exuistely by Snippets) who has been racing consistently well in good fields. She produced a last start fourth in the Group 3 The Oaks Stud Manawatu Classic to Time Keeper who has since gone on to win the Group 1 Easter Handicap.
So Elusive (Elusive City x J'Lo by Unbridled's Song) has been super impressive in winning two from two for Michael Pittman but faces huge jump in class as well as distance.
The Peter & Dawn Williams-trained Miss Bindi (Don Eduardo x Yellow Brick Road�by Soviet Star), a former Northerner with good form, has a Listed placing in behind Masquerade and Posh Bec in the Soliloquy to her credit. She's another who is having her first start over ground.
The rest of the field includes Go Georgia (Seasoned Star x Georgia Bijou by Noble Bijou) for Brian & Shane Anderton, the Paul Richards runner Palio (Pyrus x Grelfe by Grosvenor), Rio Bertolini (Bertolilni x Harbor Mist by Harbor Prince) for Shane Kennedy, Ishiabeel (Ishiguru x Dancebeel by Zabeel) for Terri Rae and Lady Mountford (Bachelor Duke x Royal Proclomtion by King Mambo) for Michael Pittman.